Foldable seat



Feb. 11, 1958 T. A. CALABRESE FOLDABLE SEAT Filed April 16. 1956 film CINVENTOR.

United States Patent F FOLDABLE SEAT Thomas A. Calabrese, Cambridge, Mass.

Application April 16, 1956, Serial No. 578,221

Claims. (Cl. 155-149) This invention relates to a foldable seat, especially one formed of an integral piece of material.

Many persons watching a parade, attending a sporting contest or other event, would like to sit; but not to carrying a seat away after the event terminates, hence it is my object to provide a foldable seat so constructed that its manufacturing cost is so low that an average person can afford to throw it away or otherwise dispose of it after one use.

Another object is to provide such a foldable seat made in one piece, and with different portions so formed that they can all lie flat, one against the other, whereby the assembly can be easily packed and shipped, or carried under a persons arm.

A further object is to form said foldable seat so simply that it can be assembled from a flat bundle into a firm seat by a few simple motions, and can likewise be returned to a flat bundle.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawing. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawing nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my foldable seat laid out in one continuous flat sheet.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of my foldable seat assembled to provide a seat.

Fig. 3 is a right side elevational view of said assembled seat shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of said assembled seat.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of said assembled seat.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of my seat folded as a flat bundle, ready to be carried or shipped.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

As illustrated, my foldable seat is formed preferably of a blank or single piece of material such as double face corrugated board illustrated in said Fig. 7, which is a well known paper product, having two facing pieces 8 with a corrugated member 9 between them. However, other materials such as fiber, metal or plastic sheets are suitable.

Since one purpose is to preferably provide a single piece of foldable material for my entire seat, I use an elongate piece of material 10 which provides the main support for my seat. This piece 10 could be 50 inches long, for instance, and 12 inches wide, although the length and width depend upon the height and seating area desired.

A back support portion 12 is an intermediate part of said elongate piece 10 and it has a vertically extending slit 14 therethrough intermediate the top and bottom, in position of use. A left side support portion 16 has a tab 2,822,860 Patented Feb. 11, 1958 18 at its outer side, intermediate the top and bottom in position of use, and there is a score 20 between it and said back portion 12 thus permitting easy bending between said portions. A right side support portion 22, preferably has a projecting pin 24 intermediate the top and bottom thereof, and there is a score 25 between said back portion 12 and said right side support, permitting easy, simple bending between them.

At the outer side of said right side support 22 is a reinforcing support portion 26 having a vertically extending slit 28 therein adjacent a score 33 where said right side support 22 and said reinforcing portion 26 meet to permit easy bending there. Said reinforcing portion 26 has a tab 30 at its free end intermediate the top and bottom in. position of use, which is adapted to extend through said slot 14 in said back portion 12, and there is preferably an opening 32 in said tab 30 that serves as a finger hole whereby my seat can readily be held and carried by a finger or two extending into said opening. Said reinforcing portion'26 is of lesser width than either of said side portions 16 and 22 and back 12. e

Extending from the upper end of said back portion 12, in position of use, is a top portion 34 which preferably is triangularly-shaped and which has a score 36 between said back portion and the Wide portion of the triangle forming said top portion 34. A cord or other fastening member 38 is attached to said top portion 34 near its free end and this is long enough to extend to and wrap around said winding pin 24 to thus hold said top portion 34 resting on the top edges of said support portions 12, 16 and 22 when my seat is assembled, ready for a-person to sit upon.

To assemble said supporting portions 12, 16 and 22, reinforcing portion 26 and top portion 34, to provide a firm seat, starting from the flat position shown in said Fig. 1, said right side portion 22 is folded towards the left until it forms an acute angle with said back portion 12. The free edge of said reinforcing portion 26 is placed next to said back portion 12 at a central position between opposite sides of the latter, and said reinforcing portion tab 30 is inserted through said back portion slit 14. to thereby hold the two portions 12 and 26 in predetermined, right-angled position. v I l Said left side portion 16 is folded to a position forming an acute angle with said back portion 12 and with the free end of said left side portion 16 lying next to said right side score 33. Said tab 18 is inserted through said reinforcing portion slot 28. Thus, in top plan view, two right-angled triangles are formed with said reinforcing portion 26 providing the hypothenuse for each said rightangled triangle.

Said top portion 34 is then folded down onto the top edges of said three supporting portions 12, 16 and 22 and said reinforcing portion 26, thus providing a triangularlyshaped seat. Said cord 38 is drawn firmly towards, and wound around, said pin 24 on said right side portion 22 to hold said top portion 34 in place.

To fold my seat said tabs 18 and 30 are withdrawn from said slits 28 and 14 respectively, and said left side portion 16 is folded to lie next to said back portion 12. Said reinforcing portion 26 is folded next to the inner surface of said right side portion 22 and then said reinforcing portion 26 and said right side portion 22 are laid fiat next to said left side portion 16. Said top portion 34 is bent backwards against the outside surface of said back portion 12 and thus there are five thicknesses of material lying flat and together, as illustrated in said Fig. 6. Said cord 36 is drawn from said top portion 34 laterally and brought around to said pin 24 where it is wound thereon to hold the aforesaid five portions together. The cord, of course, is a convenience and not a necessity.

What I claim is:

1. A foldable seat comprising, in position of use, a back support portion, a left side support portion movably connected to said back support, a right side support portion movably connected to said back support portion, a reinforcing support portion adjacent said back portion and movably'connected to said right'side portion,and' aitop portion movably connected 'to said back portion at the top of' the latter, said top' portion being adapted to reston the top edges of said left and right side portions, and said reinforcing portion; said back portion having a slit therethrough; said reinforcing portion havinga tabadapted to extend through 'saidslit in position of use, said reinforcing portion having a slit therethrough at a'point adjacent said'ri'ght side'portion, said left side portion having a tab adapted toextend through said reinforcing portion slit in position 'of use;

2. A foldable seat comprising, in position of use, a back support por ion, a left side support'portiommovably connec'tedto said back support atone side thereof, a right side support'portion movably connected to said back supportpo'rtion at another and opposite side thereof, a reinforcingsupportportion movably connected to said right side portion 'andextending from the latter to a point adjacent said back portion, said reinforcing portion being of lessenwidth' than either said back, left side or said right side portions; and a top portion movably connected to 'said'backportion at the top of the latter, said top portion" being adapted to rest. on the top edges of said left and right sideportions, and said reinforcing portion, said back portion having a slit therethrough, said reinforcing portion havinga tab adapted to extend through said slit imposition of use, said reinforcing portion having a slit therethrough at .a'point adjacent said right side .portion, said leftiside portion having a tab adapted to extend through said reinforcing'portion slit in position of use.

3. A blank for a seat scored to form a back portion, a left side portion and a right side portion at opposite sides of said back portion, a reinforcing portion connected to the'outer side of said right side portion, and atop portion connected to said'back portion, said back portion having a slit therethrough, said reinforcing portion having a slit therethrough'. adjacent the point of connection with said right side' portion, said reinforcing portion having a tab extending 'from'its free end and' adapted toenter said back'jportion slit, said left side portion having a tab extending fromits free end and adapted to enter said reinforcing portion slit, said top portion being adapted to rest on the top edges of said left side, right side, back and reinforcing portions in position of use.

4. A blank for a seat scored to form a back portion, a left side portion and a right side portion at opposite sides of said back portion, a reinforcing portion connected to the outer side of said right side portion, that part of said blank forming all of said portions being of substantially uniform width, and a top portion connected to and extending laterally beyond said back portion, said back portion having a slit the'rethrough, said reinforcing portion having a slit therethrough adjacent the point of connection with said right side portion, said reinforcing portion having a tab extending from its free end and adapted to enter said back portion slit, said left side portion having a tab extending from its free end and adapted to enter said reinforcing portion slit, said top portion being adapted to rest on the top edges of said left side, right side and reinforcing portions in position of use, said right side support embodying a projecting member at the outside surface thereof, a fastening cord connected to said top'portion and adapted to extend and attach to said projecting member.

5. A foldable seat comprising, in position of use, a back support portion, a left side support portion movably connected to one side of said back support portion, a right side support portion movably connected to another and opposite side of said back support portion, a reinforcing support'portion adjacent to and extending at substantial- 1y 2 right angle to said back portion and movably connectedito' saidright side portion, and a top portion movably connected to said back'portion at the top of the latter, said top portion being adapted to rest on the top edges of said left and'right side portions, and said reinforcing portion, said left side support portion and said right side snpport'portion' each extending diagonally from said back portion to substantially the point of connection of said right'side portion and said reinforcing portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,181,781 Long May 2, 1916 2,054,915 Stern Sept. 22, 1936 -2,390,54'6 Mather Dec. 11, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 668,398 Germany Dec. 2, 1938 

